Proposed Rules. Extension of public comment period on proposed rule

Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce
Action: Extension of public comment period on proposed rule
Citation: FR Doc. 03-1908 · RIN 0648-AP25 · Docket No. 020424095-2095-01; I.D. 032801B · 50 CFR 600

Summary

This document extends for 30 days the public comment period on a proposed rule for establishing a fishing capacity reduction program for the crab species managed under the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as published on December 12, 2002.

Dates

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until February 27, 2003.

Supplementary Information

Background On December 12, 2002 (67 FR 76329), NMFS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would implement regulations for a program to reduce excess capacity and promote economic efficiency in the crab fishery under the FMP. NMFS would finance the voluntary program's $100 million cost with a 30-year loan to be repaid by post-reduction fishermen. The proposed rule was corrected in the Federal Register on December 30, 2002 (67 FR 79550). The deadline for comments on the proposed rule was January 27, 2003, and January 29, 2003 on the correction. This extension of the comment period until February 27, 2003 is in response to requests made by the public. Moreover, as the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands C. opilio fishery was open during part of the original comment period, NMFS notes that an extension of comment period would give these members of the affected public a better chance to comment on the rule. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et. seq. Dated: January 23, 2003. Rebecca Lent, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 03-1908 Filed 1-27-03; 8:45 am]